Automatic phonograph



Nov. 15, 1949 J. L. D. MORRISON I ,1

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Patented Nov. 15, 1949 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH James L. Donaldson Morrison, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Application October 2'7, 1941, Serial No. 416,747

30 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic phonographs, and more particularly to automatic record changers for phonographs.

Phonograph record changer mechanisms heretofore provided have not been entirely satisfactory because of their complexity; their relative high cost; their susceptibility to breakage or mlsadjustment if the operation of the tone arm is interfered with while the mechanism is set for the automatic changing of records; and also subject to misadjustment or breakage by improper manipulation.

Accordingly it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved type of phonograph record changer which is of improved quality'while at the same time more compact and inexpensive, and not subject to misadjustment or breakage by manual interference or manipulation of the tone arm, or by intentional or unintentional misuse of the manual controls of the record changer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic record changer for phonographs in which the operation of the parts in proper sequence and properly coordinated is assured as against every manual interference with the movement of any part subject to such interference.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic record changer so constructed that the parts thereof may be produced by the most inexpensive manufacturing processes and yet free from warping, distortion, or wear that would interfere with the proper operation of the mech anism.

A most important object of applicants invention is to provide a simple mechanism for operating the tone arm during the changing of the records, and which mechanism permits the tone arm to be moved manually or by an external force, if greater than the normal operating forces, without efiecting the adjustment of the record changer mechanism.

Applicants invention more specifically contemplates the provision of a cam for operating the tone arm which will permit manipulation of the tone arm independently of the cam, and which cam will again pick up its follower and bring the tone arm back to its proper location to begin the next cycle of operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cam that is capable of exercising. complete control over the horizontal and vertical.

movements of the tone arm Without additional mechanism.

Still another object of applicants invention is to provide a simplified and improved record sensing mechanism for automatically changing the throw of the tone arm in accordance with the size of the record to be played.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide in .an automatic record changer an improved releasable driving connectionoperating instantaneously-upon mechanical or manual interference with the operation of the changer and operating automatically upon removal of that interference, to discontinue the operation of the changer upon such interference and return all of the parts thereof automatically to proper coordinated working relation after, removal of such interference.

It is also an essential object of this invention to provide an automatic record changer, in which the maximum number of mechanisms composing the record changer, are stationary during the playing of each record, thereby reducing to a minimum the wear upon the several mechanisms, and also improving the quality of the sound reproduced by insuring that interference noises cannot be generated by mechanisms of the record change operating during the playing. of the records.

Applicants invention further contemplates the provision of a new and improved control by.

which a single manually operable member is adapted to exercise complete control over the phonograph and the record changer, and enable an operator by means of such single member to turn the phonograph on or off; to set the phonograph for automatic or manual changing of the record; and to "reject any record at anytime.

Other and further objects and advantages-of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a phonograph record changer embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the left record supporting post, with the corresponding changer blade and supporting blade, a stack of 12 inch records represented as resting on the supporting blade.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in a different position of operation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal view partly in section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2, and diagrammatically illustrating an operation of the record sensing member Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation 3 of the right record supporting post and illustrating the connection between the pair of changer blades.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Figure 17 the view being turned 90 counterclockwise, the turntable being shown fragmentarily and partly in section.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line l-l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a reduced view taken on line 8-8 fo Figure 7 and turned clockwise approximately 180 with respect to Figure 7, parts being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6, the upper portion being shown in section.

Figure 10 is a vertical elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 9 illustrating the position of the parts, portions being shown fragmentarily and in section.

Figure 11 is a Vertical elevational of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 9 illustrating positions of the parts, portions being shown fragmentarily and in section.

Figure 12 is a vertical elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 9 illustrating the position of parts, portions being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 13 is a view along line |3l3 of Figure 9 and partially in section.

Figure 14 is a view taken along line 13-43 and turned about 90.

Figure 15 is a view in perspective and partly in section of an element of the mechanism;

Figure 16 is a view in perspective of a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a view along line l'l-l'l of Figure 6 and partially in section.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view in a horizontal section taken along the line I8--l8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 but showing the parts in different positions of operation;

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic View of mechanism controlling the operation of the record changer;

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 20, showing the parts in a different position of operation;

Figure 22 is a, fragmentary bottom perspective View of part of the manually presettable control device;

Figure 23 is a view in perspective of the manually presettable control device;

Figure 24 is a view in perspective of the support casting for the manually presettable control device;

Figure 25 is a top plan view of a portion of the motor board and showing the knob and parts of the manually presettable device below the motor board.

Figure 26 is a view in perspective and partly in section of certain parts of the mechanism for operating the tone arm and automatically initiating operation of the record changer;

Figures 27, 28 and 29 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the tone arm and of the record sensing device;

Figure 30 is a view taken along the line 36-30 of Figure 13 and turned about 90 counterclockwise.

Figure 31 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3ll3| of Figure 30, and showing the tone arm operating cam in plan; and

Figure 32 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of the cam edge.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the supporting plate or motor board 2 is formed in any desired manner for mounting in a cabinet or other housing for a phonograph.

The usual turn-table 4 with an annular rim 6 is secured to a cylindrical block 8 (Figure 9) having one or more diametric slots 59 receiving the key or pin I2 projecting from the combined spindle and record guiding post Id. The turntable 4 is driven by any suitable driving mechanism which preferably comprises an electric motor [6 (Figure 7) carried by a mounting plate 18 secured to the motor board 2 as by bolts 20 and by sound deadening washers or blocks 22. A sleeve 24 on the upper end of the motor shaft drivingly engages the periphery of a friction wheel 26, which in turn engages the rim 6 of the turn-table, thereby frictionally drivin the turntable. The friction wheel 26 is preferably journaled on a pin or stud 28 supported in any appropriate manner on a plate 30, in turn affixed to the plate l8 as by a stud or bolt 32 received in a slot 34 in the plate 30. A bolt or screw 38 carried by the plate 18 has its head received in opening 49 of the plate 30 to act as a guide and limit stop for the plate 30. A spring 42 fastened at one end of the plate 30 and at the other end to the plate l8 maintains the friction wheel 26 constantly in engagement with the rim 6 of the turn-table.

The stack of records to be played may be supported at diametrically opposite edge portions by supporting blades 44 and 46 (Figures 1 to 3), with which changer blades 48 and 50 cooperate. These blades may be of any suitable conventional construction and are arranged in pairs with each changer blade being hinged or pivoted as by pin 52 (Figure 5) to the supporting and releasing plate. The pair of blades 44 and 48 are mounted upon a vertical post or spindle 54 and the pair of blades 46 and 59 are mounted on a similar vertical spindle 56, each of the spindles being provided with a cap 58. The blades 44 and 46 are formed with elongated hub portions 60 through which the spindles 54 and 56 extend, and are releasably keyed to these spindles as by pins 62 (Figures 2, 3 and 9) fastened to the spindles and received in key slots 64 in the bottom edges of the hub portions 60. Thus it will be clear that each pair of record supporting and changing blades will be oscillated upon oscilla tion of its associated spindle, while at the same time each may be raised, thereby releasing the pin 62 \from its slot 64, and each pair of blades swung out of the way to permit records to be placed manually on the turn-table 4.

Simultaneous movement of each changer blade with its associated record supporting blade is assured by means of a pair of interengaging lugs 66 and 68 (Figure 5).

The tone arm 70 may be of any suitable conventional structure providing a recording head or pick-up 12 (Figure 17) including a record stylus 14, the pick-up being connected to the usual electric reproducer or amplifier (not shown) by means of cable 16 housed within the shell of the tone arm. This tone arm 79 may be mounted in a known manner for raising and lowering vertically from and onto the record to be played and for horizontal swinging or oscillating movement across records on the turn-table from and back to the usual tone arm rest 18 (Figure 1).

76 This mounting means may, for example, comprise a plate 80 (Figure 17) having side ears 82, to which is journaled a pivot pin 84 secured to the shell of the tone arm to form a horizontal pivot about which the arm may be raised and lowered. The plate 80 issecured to a vertical sleeve 86 swinging the tone arm about a vertical axis across the records. The sleeve 80 is journaled in a post 88 mounted in the conventional manner on the motor board 2 and secured against rotation. The tone arm is provided, internally with a headed pin 90 pressed downwardly by a spring 92 into norma1 engagement with a plunger 94 received in the sleeve 86. The plunger 94 is raised by a plunger 96, also mounted in the sleeve 86 but at the lower end thereof, through the mediacy of a spring 98 interposed between the two plungers.

The driving mechanism for the record changer is embodied in a single driving element comprising a spiral or wormlike member I (Figure 9) having two spirals or threads oppositely directed. The spiral member I00 is mounted on or pinned to the portion of the post or spindle I4 projecting beneath the motor board 2. The spiral member is journaled at opposite ends in bushings or hollow bosses I02 and I04 formed in the supporting frame I06 pending from, the motor board to which it is fastened by bolts I08. A follower I I0, the construction of which is best shown in Figures 13 and 20, engages the spiral thread of the driving element I00. This follower comprises a block having a semi-circular recess or groove II2 defined by oppositely beveled faces II4 and H6 forming a threadlike surface for engagement with the threads or spiral of the member I00. The follower H0 is formed or provided with a pivot pin II8 for pivotally mounting the follower on a' mounting link I20 (Figure 9). The pivot pin I I8 is formed or mounted in a position offset from the center of gravity of the follower so that the portion I22 (Figures 10 to 13 and on one side of the pivot aXis being greater than the weight of the portion on the outer side of the pivot axis, the follower may be automatically tilted to engage the spiral threads of the spiral or wormlike member I00. It should be noted that the spiral member I00 has below the spiral threads a reduced or unthreaded cylindrical section I24 (Figures 10 to 12), and that the follower H0 is positioned along this section, and, as will later be described is held out of engagement with threads of the spiral member. It should also be noted that the oppositely directed threads merge into each other at the top of the spiral member I00, so that, when the follower is engaged with this member, the motion of the follower will be reversed automatically after having completed a movement the full length of the spiral member.

The link I20 is pivoted as by a pin I26 (Figures 9 and 23) to the depending arm I28 of a mounting bracket I30. The pivot pin II8 of the follower H0 is received in a bushing I32 (Figure 9) mounted in a. boss I34 of the link I20. The fit of the pin in the bushing is sumciently loose and the link I20 is sufficiently long to permit the follower to move along the spiral member I00 without binding.

A driving pin I36 carried at the inner free end of the link I20 is received in a longitudinal slot I38 at the inner free end of a lever I40 pivoted at its other end as by a pin I42 to an ear I44 formed on the mounting frame I06 for the spiral member I00. The lever I40 is provided at its pivoted end with a general rectangular block I46 (Figures 14 and 15) constituting part of a load clear that the spring I16 will snap the projecreleasing protective device or clutch I48 (Figuresi A sleeve I50 cast with'or secured to 9 and 13). the block I46 projects laterally from the block and receives the pivot pin I42. received in the pivot opening of a companion clutch plate I52 (Figures 9, 13, 14 and 16), which also forms a driving lever pivoted at its upper end as by a'pin I54 (Figure 9) to a driving link I56.

The block or clutch plate I46 has grooves I58 and I60 on opposite sides of the sleeve I50, each groove being bounded by side surfaces I 62 and I64 flaring outwardly from the sleeve to an edge of the block. The side surfaces I62 and I64 of each groove also flare outwardly from the base of the groove.

The clutch plate I52 is provided on either side of its pivot opening I66 (Figure 16) with projections or lugs I68 and I10 complementary in shape to the grooves I58 and I60 to interfit with said grooves. The bounding side surfaces I12 and I14 of each projection are beveled at an obtuse angle to the surface of the plate I52 to properly interfit and engage the side surfaces I62 and I64 of the corresponding groove I58 or I60.

A coil spring I16 (Figures 13 and 14) encircles the sleeve I50 and is interposed between the plate I52 and an adjusting nut I18 threaded on the sleeve. A clamping nut I secures the nut I10 in adjusted position. A washer I82 positioned by a cotter pin I84 limits the adjustment. It will be evident that, if the movement of the driving link I56 is resisted while the follower H0 is moved along the spiral member I00, the swinging of the clutch plate I52 will also be resisted, and that,

the side surfaces I62 or I64 of grooves I58 or I60 will act as caming surfaces against the side surfaces I14 or I12 and urge the clutch plate I52 in a direction axially of the sleeve I60 against the force of the spring I16, and release the clutch plate I52 from the'block I46. It will also be tions I08 and I10 into the grooves I58 and I60 as soon as the follower III] in its opposite movement realigns the grooves with the projections.

The driving link I56 moves backwardly and forwardly as the follower IIO moves up and down along the spiral member I00 and serves to cause opposite oscillation of both pairs of record supporting and changing blades 44, 46, 48 and 50. For this purpose the driving link I56 is pivoted at its outer end as by a pin or rivet I66 (Figures 6, 9, and 13) to a plate or multi-arm lever I88 provided with a split hub portion I90 on the spindle 56 and clamped thereto as by a bolt I92 carried by one outstanding ear of the hub I90 and threadedinto the other outstanding ear thereof. A diametrically opposite arm of the plate I88 is pivoted as by a pin I94 (Figures 6 and 13) to a connecting link I96 pivoted at its opposite end as by pin I98 to a crank 200 having a split hub portion received and clamped to the spindle 54. It will be clear that by virtue of these connections the record supporting and changer blades 44 and 48 are swung simultane-,

ously with but in an opposite direction to the record supporting and changer blades 46 and 50.

The tone arm 10 is raised and lowered and automatically swung toward its post 18 by an operator or actuating mechanism 202 (Figures 6, 13, 17, 18 and 19). This operator or actuating mechanism comprises a rack 204 fixed as by screws 206 (Figures 6, 13 and 17) to a .link 208 pivoted at its other end as by pin 2I0 to. the third arm of the. plate I88. The teeth of the rack Z04'mesh with The sleeve I50 is.

the teeth of a pinion 2l2 secured, as best shown in Figure 30, to the upstanding hub portion 214 of a driving cam 216 which both raises and permits lowering of the tone arm and swings the tone arm from its support to the record and returns it to the support. The pinion 2l2 may be pressfitted on the hub portion 2M and secured by the peened-over upper end of this hub portion as shown in Figure 30. The cam 2 I6 is journaled on a stationary stud shaft 2; and positioned between a boss 228 of a mounting bracket 222 (best shown in Figure 24) and a washer 224 (Figure 30) on a reduced threaded portion 226 of the stud shaft, the washer being held against an abutting shoulder on the shaft by a nut 228. The stud shaft is fastened to the motor board 2 by bolt 238. The bracket 222 is provided with a platelike portion 232 (Figures 24 and 38), which is fastened to the motor board by means of a Washer 234 and a nut 236, the nut being received on the threaded portion 238 of the tone arm mounting post 88, the portion 238 depending from the post 88 and passing through an opening in the motor board and a corresponding opening 248 (Figure 24) in the plate 282 of the bracket 222.

The cam 2l6 is in the form of a disc having on its upper fiat surf ace a plurality of cam grooves 242, 244, 246, 246, 258, 252, 254 and 256. The grooves 242 to 256, inclusive, control the swinging movements of a pin 258 (Figures 1'7 to 19) and the raising and lowering movements of the plunger 96. The pin 258 constitutes a cam follower and is slidably mounted for vertical movement in a hollow boss 268 (Figures 17 and 26) of a segmental crank 262. The crank 262 is provided with a hub portion 264 mounted on the driving sleeve 66 (Figure 17) and fastened thereto as by a set screw 266. The cam pin 258 is provided with a conical tip 268 for engagement in the cam grooves 242 to 254 and is resiliently pressed into the grooves by a spring strip 278 (Figures 17 to 19 and 26). Fixed at one end as by a screw 212 to a boss 2'14 formed. integral with the segmental crank 262, the spring 278 overlies the enlarged head of the cam pin 258, as shown in Figure 17.

The groove 242, which may be termed the playing groove for it is this groove in which the cam pin 258 rests during the playing of the records and from and to which the pin moves during the operation of the record changer, extends from the edge toward the center of the cam disc, and may therefore be termed a radial groove in contradistinction to the grooves 244 to 256 which extend arcuately of the disc. The groove 242 does not of course extend along any radius of the cam disc, but is of curvilinear configuration and is concentric to the axis of the driving sleeve 86 for the tone arm 18. The side surface 216 of this groove 242 is sharply inclined, while the opposite rounded side surface 218 is of gradual inclination to facilitate the movement of the cam pin into the grooves 244 to 248. groove 244 may be referred to as the 18-inch groove for it determines the initial setting of the tone arm to play a lO-inch record, and the groove 246 may be referred to as the 12-inch groove for it determines the initial setting of the tone arm to play a 12-inch record. The grooves 248, 258, 252 and 254 may be referred to as directing grooves for they direct the cam pin into one or the other of the grooves 244 and 246. Each of the grooves 242 to 248 is generally V-shaped in cross-section, as illustrated in Figure 30, and the grooves 258 to 254 are similarly generally V-shaped in cross-section. The directing groove 75 permits 248 may be further termed an initial directinggroove for it serves to direct the cam pin into the groove 246, when the operation of the phonograph is initiated with the tone arm initially on the rest member 78. This directing groove 248 intersects the groove 246 at the point A (Figure 31), and at the point of intersection A the groove 246 is more shallow than the groove 246 so as to provide an outer side surface for the grooves 246 at this point, and thereby prevent movement of the pin into the groove 248 as the cam is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 31. The 10-inch and 12-inch grooves 244 and 246 are generally spiral in form, being of constantly increasing radius from the entering ends 288 and 282, to their terminating ends 284 and 266 to thereby cause the cam pin and tone arm to move outwardly with respect to the cam and the record as the cam is rotated in a clockwise direction and to move inwardly as the cam is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

The directing cam grooves 258 and 252 intersect the 10-inch cam groove 244 at the points B and C. The groove 252 continues from the point B to the point C. At the point C the groove 252 is of greater depth than the portion of the groove 244 extending counterclockwise from the intersection so that, as the cam rotates in a clockwise direction, the pin will be directed from the groove 244 or 258 into the groove 252. At the point B the groove 244 is deeper than the groove 258 so that, as the cam rotates in a counterclockwise direction it will, in passing from the point C, be directed into the groove 244 rather than the groove 258. The directing groove 252 intersects the 12-inch groove 246 at the point D, at which point the groove 246 is deeper than the groove 252 so that, as the disc rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the pin will continue to move along the groove 246 and will not be directed into the groove 252. The directing groove 254 intersects the 12-inch groove 246 at the point E and the 10-inch groove 244 at the point F. At both of these points of intersection the groove 254 is more shallow than the grooves 244 and 246, so that the cam pin will not move into groove 254 from the 12-inch groove 246 upon a clockwise rotation of the cam, unless continued movement of the pin along this groove is restrained, nor will the pin move into the groove 254 from the 18-inch groove 244 as the cam rotates in a counterclockwise direction. All of the cam grooves 244 to 254 are sufficiently shallow to permit movement of the cam pin from one to another groove or across the flat surface of the cam in the event that the movement of the tone arm is in any way interfered with during the operation of the record changer, intentionally or inadvertently.

The cam groove 256 for controlling the plunger 86 is of constantly increasing depth from the upper flat dwell surface of the cam to the lower flat dwell surface 288 in which the plunger rests in its lowest position during the playing of the records. The inclined or active surface of the cam groove 256 is so disposed in angular relation to the grooves 242 to 258 as to insure raising of the tone arm actuating plunger 96 before an outward swinging movement of the tone arm is initiated, and to retain the record stylus elevated actuating plungers 94 and 96 for the tone arm relative movement between these recorded groove.

plungers in the event of interference with the be classified as of two types in respect to the form of the terminating groove, that is, the groove into which the stylus moves from the end of the Thus, in one type of record known as the eccentric groove type, the terminating groove is eccentric to the center of the record,

'and therefore causes the stylus to move away from the center of the record as the stylus trav- "erses said terminating groove. In the other type of record known as the concentric type, the terminating groove is concentric to the center of the record at a fixed distance from the center for all records of this type.

' According to the present invention, mechanism is provided for assuring initiation of the operation of the record changer regardless of the type of record; specifically, means is provided for initiating operation of the record changer when the stylus is moved away from the center by an eccentric terminating groove, and means is also provided for initiating operation of the record changer when the stylus is positioned at a predetermined distance from the center of the record as when brought to this position by a concentric terminating record groove;

The follower H is normally held during the playing of the records in an ineffective position in the space below the threads of the spiral driving member I00 by a latch comprising a rod 290 (Figures 6, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19 and. 20) journaled in a boss 292 (Figures 9 and 13) provided therefor in a side flange of the mounting frame'l0'6 for the spiral member I00. The rod 290 is also journaled in a depending lug or arm 294 of the bracket 222 (Figures 13 and 24). At its inner end the rod is bent downwardly to provide a latching finger 296 adapted when positioned, as shown in Figure 11, to engage an edge of the follower H0 and prevent tilting of the follower by its cqunterweighted portion I22 into engagement with the oppositely directed thread of the spiral member.

Release of the follower, thereby permitting it to tilt into engagement with the upwardly directed thread of the spiral member, is efiected by rotating the latching rod 290 and hence the latching finger 236 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 11, or in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 20. This latching rod 290 and latching finger 296 form a part of the means for initiating the operation of the record changer in response to the stylus traversal of an eccentric terminating record groove, and also part of the {means for initiating operation of the record 'changer in response to thestylus traversal of a concentric terminating record groove.

Means for operating the rod 290 in response to the stylus traversal of an eccentric terminating record groove comprises a rod actuator 298 (Figures 13, 18, 19 and 20) in'the form of a special crank secured to the outer end of the rod 290' as by the screw 300 (Figure 13) the crank having a laterally directed curved lug 302. The surface 304 of this lug is roughly concentric to the axis of the sleeve 86 (Figure 17) and the coincident axis'of swing of the tone arm 10. The outer round end 306 of the lug 302 normally lies substantially on the prolongation of the axis of the rod 230 while the surface 304 curves away from such prolongation of the rod axis. 1 The segmental crank 262 (see Figures 18, 19 and 26) is formed with a boss 308 receiving a "pivot pin 3| 0,'by which a pawl 3l2 is mounted '3l0 and the spring securing pin 3I6. This pawl may be said to be normally maintained on center. The rod actuator or crank 298 is normally retained in the position shown in Figure 18 by a light spring 320 secured at one end to the lug 302, and at the other end to the pin or lug 322 formed on the bracket 222. As the tone arm moves inwardly across a record, the pawl 3l2 is swungin a clockwise direction (Figure 18) with the segmental crank 262 until the pawl tooth 3K8 engages the rounded outer edge 306 of the lug 302. As the segmental crank continues to swing in this clockwise direction, the pawl is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot pin 3i 0 until the pawl tooth clears the edge 306, after which the pawl tooth moves inwardly in a clockwise direction, as seenin Figure 17,

and the rod 290 and latch finger 296 torotate in the direction of, the arrows (Figures 13. and 11) This, of course, efiects release. of the follower I l0 for the initiation of an operation of the record changer. The means for operating the latch rod to initiate an operation of the record changer in response to the stylus traversal of the concentric terminating record groove, comprises the rod actuator or crank 298 which, for that purpose, is provided with a lug 324 (Figures 17 to 20, inclusive) extending below the lug 302. The

lug 324 is engaged and actuated by an adjustable stop comprising a set screw 326 threaded in ear 328 extending outwardly from the segmental crank 262, the set screw being held in adjusted position as by the clamping nut 330. The lug 324 is oifsetrfrom the axis of the rod 290 so that, when engaged by the set screw 326, the crank 298 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 17, to cause therod 290 and the latching finger '296,to be rotatedin the direction of the arrows in Figures 13 and 11, and thereby release the follower for the initiation of an operation of the record changer.

Manually operable means 332 (Figures 1, 17, 20 to 23, and 25) is provided for turning the record player on and off for rendering the record changerinefiective, so that the records may be manually placed on the turn-table; for setting the record changer for automatic operation; and for initiating operation of the record changer at anydesired instant to reject or terminate the playing of any undesired record. This means comprises an actuating rod 334 journaled in a boss 336 (Figures 17 and 23) of the bracket I30 that carries the pivot pin I26 for the link I20. This bracket is secured to the motor board 2 by a nut 338 (Figure 1'7) and a washer 340, the nut being threaded on the reduced lower end of the mounting post 342v for the record supporting and changing blades and 50. The rod 334 projects through the motor board and is pro- .vided with an operating knob 344.

set by radial grooves 350, 352 and 354 (Figure '22) in the lower surface of the boss 336, and

movement of the pin 348 beyond the grooves 350 and 354 is prevented by stop pins 356 and 358 depending from the boss 336. The rod 334 carries at its lower end a crank arm 360 having a switch actuating lug 362 at its outer end to engage the operator of a switch 364 mounted on a web of the bracket I30 (see Figure 23). The crank 360 is provided with an arm 366 having a slot 368 receiving the upturned end of a latch rod 318 (Figures 6, 9 to 13, 1'7, 20 and 21). The rod may be secured tothe arm 366 as by a cotter pin or the like 312. The rod 318 extends from the arm 366 and is slidably mounted at its other end in a boss 314 (Figures 10 to 12) formed on a flange of the. mounting frame I06 for the spiral member I00. As the knob 344 is turned to the position in which the pin 348 is received in the groove 354, the rod 310 is moved longitudinally from the position in Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, to the position in Figure 12, in which the free end of the rod extends over the. edge of the follower H0 and. restrains the follower in the horizontal, untilted position and out of engagement with the threads of the spiral member I00. Thus, with the knob in this, position, the record changer is rendered ineffective, sothat the records may be placed by hand on the turn-table. As the knob 344 is rotated to. the position in. which the pin 348 is received in the. groove 352, the. rod 318 is withdrawn from the follower to the position as shown in. Figures 10. and 11, thereby rendering the record changer efiectivefor automatic operation.

The pin 348 serves not. only tov determine the various adjusted positionsv of the knob 344, but also serves to actuate the mechanism for initiating operation of the. record changer at any desired instant to. reject any record or terminate the playing of any record when desired. This mechanism comprises a rod 316 (Figures 13, 17

and 20.) journaled at. one end in a lug 318- formed as,- a. part of the bracket. 13!] and in the lug 294 of the bracket 222. A crank 380,- (Figures 1'7 and 20) is pinned to. the, end of the rod 313 adjacent the. manual adjuster rod 334, the crank extending beneath the, pin 348 for engagement thereby when the knob. 344 and the rod 334 are depressed against the action of the: spring 346. The rod 316 has at. its opposite end an upturned end portion 382 for engaging the rod actuator or. crank. 2.9.8. The engaged; surface 384, of the crank. 2.98, is so. shaped that upon depression of the p n 3.48 and. the. consequent turning of the rod 316 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 20, the crank, 29.8. and the. rod 290 will be rotated in a, clockwise, direction, as seen in Figure 17, or in the directionof the. arrow in Figure 20. Such rotation of the rod 290. causes the. latch finger 29.6 to. be released from the follower I 10, thereby initiating anv operation of the record changer. When the manual adjustor rod 334 is in its upward position, as shown in Figure 17, the pin 348 is out, of engagement with the. crank 380. The crank is, however, provided with. an upwardly extending nose. or cam surface 386 at. its

19-inch size.

outer free end, which is normally positionedin the path of the pin 348 as the knob 344 is rotated to the manual position in which the latch rod 310- is moved to latch the follower H0. Thus, as the rod 310 is moved to latch the follower H8, the pin 343 engages the cam part 386 of the crank 380 to rotate the rod 316 in the direction to release the latch finger 296 from the follower. This insures that, when the knob 344 is turned from the manual to the automatic position and the latch rod 318 is thereby released from the follower H0, the latch finger 2 96 will not retain the follower in ineffective position, but an operation of the record changer placing a new record on the turn-table, will be initiated.

Automatically operable means is provided for automatically determining the position of the tone arm in accordance with the size of record to be played. Thisv means comprises a record sensing device or feeler rod 388 (Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, 6, 9, 13 and 27 to 29, inclusive) journaled inthe post or spindle 54 by being received in a longitudinal surface groove or slot 390 (Figure 9). The rod 388 extends below the spindle 5'4 and has adjustably secured to its lower end a crank 392. The rod is provided with an integral crank formedby a bend 394 in the rod, the bend 394 extending from the spindle through an arcuate slot 396 at the upper edge of a mounting post 3.98- which supports the pair of blades 44 and 48, and inwhich the spindle 54 is journaled. From the bend or crank portion 394 the rod extends upwardly alongside the inner edge of the record supporting blade 44 and terminates just above the plane of the upper surface of this blade so as to engage the periphery of the bottommost 12-inch record in the stackof records on the blade. It should "be noted that this free end portion 400 of the rod extends above the blade 44 a distance which is somewhat less than the thickness of a record, so that the rod will not engage the periphery of the second record in the stack, and will freely move beneath the edge of a 12-inch second record, if the bottom record of the stack is the The upwardly extending portion 402 of the rod acts as a guide for the periphery of the record as it drops toward the turn-table. This portion is made sufficiently long to insure that the record will drop without substantial tilting on the guide post l4, and is made sufllciently short as by bends 404 and 406, as not to appreciably retard the dropping of the record,

'. which would in itself tend to cause tilting of the record The spindle 54 is provided in the plane of the crank portion or bend 394 with a transverse slot 408 (Figures 4 and 9) for permitting the crank portion to. swing about the axis of the rod 388 relative to the spindle 54, as the rod revolves about the axis of the spindle. The rod 388 controls the positioning of a stop rod 410 (Figures 2, 3, 6, 9, 13, 18, 19, and 27 to 29, inclusive). The rod 418 is pivotally secured to the crank 392 as by the upwardly bent portion 412 (Figure 9) of the rod which is received in a pivot opening in the crank, and the rod, is secured against release from the crank by the upwardly bent end 4 of the rod. The rod is slidably guided adjacent its opposite end in the aperture provided in a depending lug 4l6 (Figures 6, 13, 17 to 19, inclusive, and Figure 24) formed integrally with the bracket 222. This end of the rod is adapted to be positioned in the path of. movement of an .arm or lug 4! 'formed integrally with the seginclusive), which is secured to the fastening pin 422 of collar 424 thus secured to the rod 4H], and at the other end to the lug 4l6, urges the rod 4|[l in the direction of the arm or lug MB of the segmental crank 262 when the bottom record of a stack of records supported upon the blades 44 is of -inch size. A 12-inch bottom record engaging the end 408 of the feeler rod 388, holds the rod 4"! against action of the spring 420 in a position out of the path of the arm or lug 4l8.

As the blades 44, 46, 48 and 58 swing in the direction of the arrows (Figure 1) to relea-se the bottommost record of the stack, the end 400 of the feeler rod engaged by a 12-inch record will thereby be held against movement, and the spring 428 will thereby be rendered inefiective to move the stop rod 4l6 into the path of the lug 418. Consequently the cam pin 258 traverses the l2- inch record groove to the end 286 thereof without interference. Although the spindle 54 in rotating to effect a swinging of the blades 44 and 48, causes a revolution of the feeler rod 388 about the axis of the spindle, this will not effect the advancement of the stop rod toward the lug .4l8, because the end 480 of the feeler rod being held against movement by a 12-inch record, is caused to rotate relatively on its own axis to axis 54 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4, or in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13, thereby compensating for any advancing movement imparted to the rod 4l0 by the revolution of the feeler rod 388 about the axis of the spindle 54.

When the end 400 of the feeler rod 388 is not restrained against movement by a 12-inch record (the bottom record of the stack being of 10-inch size), the swinging of the blade 44 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 permits the end 400 of the feeler rod to move in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4, to the full line position in that figure, and this movement of the feeler rod effects a clockwise movement of the crank 392, as seen in Figures 27 to 29, or a counterclockwise movement of this crank as seen in Figure 13.

This movement of the feeler rod and the consequent advancement of the stop rod M8 to the position shown in Figures 18 and 29 are effected by the spring 420. The crank 392 is angularly adjusted or positioned on the feeler rod 388 so that the end of the stop rod 418 will engagethe arm or lug 418 of the segmental crank 262 at the instant that the cam pin 258, in traversing the 12-inch record groove 246 of the cam 2I6, reaches the intersection E, and the rod 4H) continues to advance, pushing upon the arm or lug M8 and forcing the cam pin 258 into the cam groove 254, which thereby directs the pin into the 10-inch groove 244. The cam continues to rotate until the cam pin 258 reaches the end 284 of the ill-inch cam groove 244. During this movement of the blades in the direction of the arrows in Figure 1, the follower H8 is moved upwardly of the driving spiral member I80 and the cam 2 I6 is being rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 6, '18, 19 and 27 to 29, inclusive, and in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13. By the time that the follower has moved to the top of the spiral memher, the record supporting blades 44 and 46, having released the bottommost record, the changer blades 48 and 50 have been inserted between the bottom record and the stack thereabove, and

'the 'cam- 2| 6 has completed its movement. As

the follower descends along the spiral member, theblades 44, 46, 48 and 50 are swung in an 'opposite direction from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, and the cam 216 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures 6, 18, 19, 2'7 to 29, inclusive, or in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13. During this movement of the cam, the cam pin 258 traverses the 10-inch groove 244 and the tone arm 10 is brought to the proper position to initiate the playing of a 10-inch record.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

r A preselected set of records is positioned on the record supporting blades 44 and 46 and the guide post M, the records being arranged in series without regard to their size. The control knob 344 is swung to automatic position, and, as it is swung to this position, the wiper blade 362 of the crank 360 (Figures 17 and 25) engage the actuator of the switch 364 to close the circuit to the driving motor Hi. If the first record to be played has not manually been placed on the turn-table, the control knob is then depressed, causing the pin 348 to engage and operate the crank 380 and thereby rotate the releasing rod 316 in the direction of the arrows in Figures 13, 17 and 20. The end 382 of the release rod 376 causes the latch rod 290 tomove in the direction of the arrow in these same figures through the crank 298, thereby releasing the latch finger 296 from the follower. An operation of the record changer is thereby initiated automatically to place a record on the turn-table. The stylus and tone arm thereafter move across a record in playing the same, and if the record is of the type having an eccentric terminating groove, the segmental crank 262 (Figures 18 and 19) is caused to move in a counterclockwise direction, thereby dragging the tooth 3!? of the pawl 312 across the surface 384 of the special crank 268 from the dotted line position A in Figure 19 to the dotted line position C through the on center full line position B. This movement of the pawl relative to the segmental crank causes the special crank 298 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, ,as seen in Figure 20, thereby rotating the latch rod 296 in the direction of the arrows in Figures 13, 18, 19 and 20. This efiects a release of the latch finger 286 from the follower H8 and an operation of the record changer is automatically initiated. If the record is of the type having a concentric terminating groove, the tone arm is carried inward sufliciently far to cause the set screw 326 carried by the segmental crank 262 to engage the lug 324 of the special crank 298 and cause a similar operatic of thiscrank to release the follower H0.

At the instant that the follower is thus released for an automatic operation, the cam pin 258 is positioned in the cam groove 242 (see Figure .31) somewhere between the entering end 288 of the 10-inch groove 244 and the cam groove 25!].

Hence, as the follower moves upwardly along the spiral member I00 and the cam 2l6 rotates in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 31, the pin rides over the surface 218 of the cam groove 242 and into the cam directing groove 258, thence along the cam groove 252 into the 12-inch cam groove 246 at the point D. If the bottommost record of the stack is of the larger size-namely, 12-inchthe pin continues to traverse the groove 2% to the end 286 thereof, as previously described. If the record is smallnamely, 10-inch size- -the iollowr rod 388 or the record sensing device advances the stop rod 4H1, as previously described, and this rod 4Ill by engagement with the arm or lug MS of the segmental crank 262 causes the pin to pass into the directing groove 254 at the point E, and thence to traverse this groove and the 10-inch groove 244 to the end 284. During this operation of the cam the record supporting and changing blades are swung in the direction of the arrows in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 3, thereby releasing the bottommost record which drops upon the turn-table.

As the follower then moves downwardly along the spiral member I00, the cam 2I6 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 31, and the record supporting and changing blades are moved opposite to the direction of the arrows in Figure I from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 2. In the counterclockwise movement of the cam 2I6, the cam pin 258 traverses the 10-inch cam groove 244 from the end 284 past the intersections C and B to the entering end 286 of this cam groove. The ends 284 and 286 of the 10-inch and 12-inch cam grooves 244 and 246 are spaced radial distances from the center of the cam sufiiciently to cause the tone arm to be positioned out of the path of the record falling onto the turn-table. The entering ends 280 and 282 of these grooves are, however, spaced nearer to the center of the cam axis, and these radial distances are such as properly to position the stylus I4 in respect to the starting record groove. As previously noted, the cam surface 256 is so related to the cam grooves 242 as to cause the tone arm to be raised from the record before the outward swinging movement of the arm is initiated, and to maintain the tone arm raised until it has been swung to proper position for the playing of the next record.

Whenever it may be desired to terminate the playing of any record, or reject the same, it is a merely necessary to depress the control knob 344, and this depression of the control knob effects in the manner previously described the release of the latch finger 296 from the follower H0, and an operation of the record changer is thereby initiated to swing the tone arm from the record on the turn-table outwardly while the record supporting and changer blades release the bottommost record of the stack, and the tone arm is then returned for the playing of the next record.

If it is desired to dispense with the automatic feeding of the records, and to manually position the desired records individually on the turn-table, it is merely necessary to swing the control knob to the manual position, and to lift each pair of record supporting and changing blades on their spindles 54 and 56 to swing them out of the way, .so that a record may be placed manually on the turn-table. The movement of the control knob to manual position causes the latch rod 310 to be advanced from the position of Figure 10 or 11 to the position of Figure 12, so as to latch the follower I I0 against automatic operation. The tone arm may then be positioned manually to initiate the playing of a record, and when the record has been played, the arm may be manually returned to its rest member I8.

The spring pressed cam pin 258 permits manipulation of the tone arm without interference, the cam pin simply moving up and down as it is caused to swing across the surface of the cam 2 I 6, and in the same manner any interference with the tone arm, while it is being moved by the cam 2I6, will not affect the operation of the cam since the cam pin will simply rise in its socket 260 -(Figure 17) against the urging of the spring 216.

When such interference of the tone arm has been terminated, the cam pin will automatically be returned to proper position upon the next operation of the cam.

Any interference with the changer blades, such as may be caused by a warped record or by grasping one of the blades during its operation, will not affect the adjustment of the record changer mechanism for the release mechanism or clutch I48 will immediately come into operation, freeing the driving lever I46 from the combined lever and clutch plate I52, so that the follower member I I6 continues its movement along the spiral member I86. As soon as the clutch projections I68 and I I6 again become aligned with the clutch grooves I 58 and 60 by the movement of the follower in the opposite direction along the spiral member, the driving lever I40 and lever I52 will automatically be returned to their normal driving relation.

It frequently is desired to repeat the playing of a particular record. This can readily be accomplished by turning the control knob 344 to manual position, thereby preventing automatic operation of the record changer, by advancing the rod 316 to the position in Figure 12, and manually moving the tone arm to proper position for playing the record a second time. When the knob 344 following the second playing of the record is swung to automatic position to reset the changer for automatic operation, the latch rod 310 is released from the follower before the latch finger 296 is returned to latching position, for the pin 348, by engaging the cam lug 386 of the crank 386, retains the crank depressed for a slightly greater angular movement of the control knob than is required to release the latch rod 310. Thus the follower being released automatically by resettin the control knob for automatic operation, a next record from the stack is automatically fed to the turn-table. This release of the latch rod 310 prior to the movement of the latch finger 296 into latching position, insures the placing of a record on the turn-table whenever the tone arm is automatically positioned for the playing of a record. For example, if a stack of records is placed upon the supporting and changing blades, there being no record on the turn-table, the tone arm will not automatically be placed over the turn-table for the follower will either be latched by the finger 296 or by the latch rod 310. If the control knob is in off position, then it must be either turned to the manual or automatic position to start the record playing. If it is turned to the automatic position, it must be further depressed to release the latchfinger 296 from the follower, thereby initiating the automatic operation in which the bottom record of the stack is placed on the turntable. If the knob is moved to manual position, then the follower is latched by the rod 316 until the control arm is turned to the automatic position. The depression of the knob while in the manual position will not release the follower, but as soon as the knob is turned to the automatic position, the follower will be released, as previously described, and an automatic operation of the record changer effected thereby to place the record on the turn-table.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages,

17 andtherightis hereby. reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the :scope of the following claims.

Having thus described .my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. .In anlautomatic record changer, a driven, record turntable, a ishiftable record changing member, a-driving threaded spiral connected to and driven with the turntable, a follower-for said spiral, said follower being connected 'to said record changing member to shift the same and mounted for movement relative to the spiral from an ineffective position out of engagement with the thread of-the spiral to an effective position in engagement with the threadof'thespiral, and means controlledby records for moving-said follower from said ineffective position to said effective position.

2. Inan-automatic record changer, a driven, record turntable, a shiftable record changing member, a tone'arm, 'a shaft connected to and driven with the turntable and having spiral threads, a follower connected to said record changing member and having a spiral thread for interfittingwith the spiral threads on said shaft, said follower being connected to said record changing member to shift the same when the follower is moved along said shaft by interengagement of the follower thread with the spiral threads on said shaft, said spiral thread and follower having meansfor automatically engaging its thread with said spiral thread adaptedto move the "follower-to an effective position, means for latching said automatic engaging .means against actuation, and means responsive to movement of saidtone arm totheend .of a record being .playedfor releasing said latching means.

.3. In anautomatic phonograph, a turn-table. a tonearm, a motor for driving said turn-table, meansfor supporting and successively releasing records to be played,said'meansincluding a record supporting member shiftable to release a selectedrecord, a worm having athreaded portion and an unthreaded portion .and driven by said motor, a follower connected. for operation of said shiftablerecord supporting member andhaving a thread adapted .to engage the worm thread to actuate said member when the worm threads are so engaged, said follower being moved automatically by.the wormfromthe:threaded portion of the worm to the unthreadedportion of-the worm, means normally urgingsaid follower onto the threaded portion of the @worm, means for releasablyretaining said follower on the .unthreaded portion of the worm against the action of. said urging means, and means responsive to movement of said tone arm to the end of record being played for operating said retaining means to release the follower-for automatic movementby said urging means onto the threaded portionof the worm.

} 4..In an automatic record changer, a. record changing membershiftable to and fro, .a. driving spiral having-superposed coextensive right and left .handspiral threads, a follower. having automatic means for causingsaid: follower :thread to interfit with thethreads of the spiral and movable first in one direction and then inthe other as the thread of the follower ttraverses first one thread of the spiral and then the other, said follower being connected to shift said record changing member to andfro as. the follower moves first inonedirectiOn and then intheother. along 18 the spiraLsaid followerhaving means for auto matica'llymoving it from anormal ineffective position in whichthe threadlof the follower is out of..:engagement with the spiral to a position in which the thread of "the follower engages the thread ,of :.the spiral, andreleasable means for latchingsaid followerin said ineffective position.

.5. ;In anautomatic phonograph, a record receivingzturnetable mounted on a spindle, a. stylus carrying tone .arm shift/ably mounted for movement-across a record on'the turn-table and for movement toward andfrom a record on'the turn-a table, a =.ver.tical driving spiral driven by said spindlasaid spiral having superposed coextensiveirightand left hand threads, a'follower havinga ethreadlautomatic means-for causing said follower "thread :to 'interengage first one thread and ithen'the other of the spiral, whereby the follower traversesathe spiral first in one direction and then Ein'the opposite direction, means connecting saidfollower :to said tone'arm for moving said1tonearmyawayfrom-and across said turn table in 'an outward direction as the follower moves ,inione direction along the spiral to permit placement :of va record on the turn-table, said connecting means moving said tone arm inwardly with respect to the edge of the turn-tableand then=toward said turn-table as the follower moves in :the opposite direction along said spiral to reposition the'tone arm to initiate playingof a record placed on' theturn-table latch means for normally retaining said automatic means in ineffective position with follower at one end of said spiral out of engagementlwiththe threads of the spiral, and means. controlled by the'tone arm for releasing saidzlatch means thereby to cause said follower toengage with the threads of the spiral.

6. In an automatic record changer, meansfor supporting and successively releasing the bottommostrecordof a-stack, said means including -a record supporting member shiftable to release the bottommost record, atone-arm, a tone arm operator constructedto shift-the tone arm from one record after it is played to the next as the rec ords are changed, a continuously operating driving-spiral, afollower automatic means for connecting said follower to said driving spiral releasable latch means for normally retaining said automaticmeans againstoperation, means connected to said follower for synchronously op--' erating said record supporting member and-said tone arm operator andmeans operative bythe' tone arm when it reaches the end of a record groove, for releasing said latch means.

VLIn-an automatic record'changer, recordsupporting and changing blades for supporting a stackof recordsand oscillatable to and fro to release the bottommost record, a turn-tablepositionecl to receive the released record from the supporting and changing blades, means forturning said turn-table driving means automatic means for effecting operation of said driving means by said turning means, means connecting said driving-meansto saidrecord supporting and changing: blades for oscillating said blades to and fro,; atone arm mounted for 'raising and'lowering movementtoand from the'turn-table and for movement across the turn-table, a cam oscillatable to and fro, means connecting said cam to said driving means for oscillation in synchronism with said supporting :and changing blades, means operated by said camfor raising the tone arm from the-record and swinging said tone armoutwardly above the turn-table as the cam and changer blades swing in one direction, and swinging the tone arm inwardly above the turn-table and downwardly onto a record on the turn-table as the changer blades and cam swing in the opposite direction, means for normally maintaining automatic means ineffective, and means controlled by the records through the tone arm as it reaches the end of each record being played, for rendering said automatic means effective to effect operation of said driving means.

8. In an automatic phonograph, a stylus carrying tone arm for playing the records, means for automatically raising the tone arm from a record when the record has been played and for repositioning said tone arm to initiate playing of a record, said means comprising a pair of cam surfaces adapted to position the tone arm for the playing of a record of or 12" size respectively, a follower connected to the tone arm and normally positioned to engage that one of said cam surfaces for positioning the tone arm for playing a 10" record, and record sensing means responsive to the dropping of a 12" record for positioning the follower to engage the other of said cam surfaces for positioning the tone arm accordingly.

9. In an automatic phonograph, a record receiving turn-table, opposite sets Of record supporting and changing blades for receiving a stack of records to be played, said blades being oscillatable to and fro to release the records one by one, means for guiding the released records to the turn-table, a stylus carrying tone arm mounted for movement toward and from the turn-table and for movement across the turn-table, and means for synchronously operating said changing blades and said tone arm, said means including an actuating cam means providing a pair of cam surfaces for positioning the tone arm for playing a record of one size or another size respectively, cam follower means connected to the tone arm and normally positioned to engage that one of said surfaces for positioning said tone arm for playing the smaller size of records, a record sensing member connected to one set of said blades for movement therewith to gauge the periphery of a record to be released from said supporting and changing blades, and means operated by said record sensing member in response to its gauging of a larger size record for positioning the follower means to engage the other of said surfaces for positioning said tone arm accordingly.

10. In an automatic record changer, a driven, record turntable, a shiftable, record changing member, a shaft driven with the turntable and having a pair of opposite coextensive spiral threads, a follower having a thread formed to interfit with the spiral threads and to actuate the follower longitudinally of the driving shaft first in one direction and then in the other, means connectin said follower to said shiftable record changing member to operate said member a the follower moves longitudinally of the shaft, means for latching the follower against engagement with said spiral threads, means for releasing said latching means to permit engagement of said follower at one end of said shaft spirals and means at the other end of said spirals for directing said follower thread into the reverse spiral for the return movement.

- 11. In an automatic phonograph, a horizontal turn-table, a tone arm shiftably mounted for movement above said turn-table, a, vertical shaft connected to the turn-table for continuous operation therewith and extending beneath said turn-table, said shaft having superposed spiral threads on the portion below said turn table, a follower having a portion for interfitting with the spiral thread to cause a cycle of movement of the follower longitudinally of the shaft, means connecting said follower to said tone arm for moving the tone arm from a record being played and repositioning it on a record to be played as the follower moves through its cycle of movement, latching means for normally retaining the follower disengaged from said spiral threads, means for automatically releasing said latching means upon the completion of the playing of the record, and means for automat ically engaging said follower with said threads upon release of said latching means.

12. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone arm operably associated with said turn table, a driving shaft for said turn-table having a spiral thread, a follower havin a portion for interfitting with the spiral thread to move said follower longitudinally of the shaft when engaged with said thread, means connecting said follower to said tone arm for moving the tone arm from a record being played and repositioning it on a record to be played, said connecting means in cluding interengaged members releasable upon manual movement of the tone arm, means for latching the follower against engagement with saidspiral thread, means controlled by the tone arm for automatically releasing said latching means, and manually operable means for preventin engagement of the follower with said spiral thread upon release of said latching means by said tone arm controlled means to en'- able replaying of the record by manual setting of the tone arm.

13. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone arm operably associated with said turntable, a driving shaft for said turntable having a spiral thread, a follower having a portion for interfitting with the spiral thread to move said follower longitudinally of the shaft, means connecting said follower to said tone arm for moving the tone arm from a record being played and repositioning it on a record to be played, means for latching the follower against engagement with said spiral thread, and means controlled b the tone arm for releasing said latching means upon backward movement of the tone arm as the stylus of the tone arm traverses an eccentric terminating record groove.

14. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone arm operably associated with said turntable, a driving shaft for said turntable having a spiral thread, a follower having a portion for in terfitting with the spiral thread to move said follower longitudinally of the shaft, means connecting said follower to said tone arm for moving the tone arm from a record being played and repositioning it on a record to be played, means'for latching the follower against engagement with said thread, and means controlled by the tone arm for releasing said latchin means when the tone arm reaches a predetermined position relative to the center of a record on the turn-table.

15. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone arm operably associated with said turntable, a driving shaft for said turn-table having a spiral thread, a follower having a portion for interfitting with the spiral thread to move said follower longitudinally of the shaft, means connecting said follower to said tone arm for moving the tone arm from a record being played and repositioning it on a record to be played, means for latching the follower against engagement with said thread, and tone arm controlled means for releasing said latching-means, said'tone arm controlled means comprising a device operable upon *backwardmovement of-the tonearm as the stylus of the tone arm traverses an eccentric terminating record igroovefor releasing said latching means and a device operated by the tone arm as the stylus of the tone arm traverses the concentric terminating record groove for releasing said latching means.

16. :In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone [arm operably associated with said turntable, means including "a cam and a follower for swinging said tone arm, said cam comprising :a disc,=-said-follower comprisinga resiliently mounted :pin said disc having a generally radial groove receiving the cam and forming a dwell surface, along which the pin moves generally radially of the disc :as the stylus of the tone arm traverses a :record-beingplayed, said disc having a cam groove eccentric to the axis of the disc and along whichthe'pin moves to swing thetonearm, means operable at will for actuating said cam disc. saiddisc having pin directing surface portions directing the pin into the eccentric groove from the-generally radial groove regardless of the ,position of the pm at the instant actuation of the cam disc is initiated.

1'1. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, a :tone arm operably associated with the turntable, .a rotary means forswinging-said tone arm, a. rotary cam'disc, and a cam follower pin connected to said rotary means and yieldably mounted for movement transverse to the face of the cam-dis sa'id cam disc having a pin receiving groove eccentric to the axis of said disc forming an active surface to cause swinging of :said tone arm saiddisc having a pin receiving camgroove transverse to said eccentric groove at a point of intersection between said grooves, said transverse groove being-shaped to permit movement of thejpin thereinas the stylus of the tone arm traverses a record being played, and said cam disc having entering-cam grooves interconnecting .oppositewends of said tranverse groove to said eccentric groove.

:18. In anautomatic phonograph, a turn-table, a tone :arm operably associated withsaid turntable, ashaft for swinging said tone arm, a crank on saidshaft, apin yieldably mounted on said crank, and an actuating cam disc mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from the axis .of said :shaft and parallel thereto, said cam disc having :an actuate groove extending inwardly from the edge of the disc and concentric to the axisof said shaft,said arcuate groove receiving said pin and forming a dwell surface alongwhich the pin moves as'the stylus of the tonearm traverses arecordbeing played, said disc having .radially zspaced grooves eccentric to the axis of said disc for receiving said pin from said arcuate groove, thereby .to swing said tone arm and :position the same to initiate playing of records of diflerent size, and means including a record sensing member for compelling movement'of the pin'relative to the cam disc into-a selected groove according to the size of the record sensed by said :member.

19. In an automatic phonograph, a 'turntable, a :tone arm operably associated with said turn-table, a shaft for swinging-said tone arm, a crankzonzsaid shaft, a pin yieldably mounted on said crank, a cam disc rotating on an axis parallelto but'spaced-from an axis-of said spaced shaft1 said disc :having an arcuate cam groove concentric to the axis-ofi-saidr shaft andiextending generally radially of the dis said disc being;:po sitioned :in :relation to the pin so that the pin moves along said arcuate cam groove as the stylus of the tone arm traverses a record being played, said disc having spaced grooves eccentric to the axis'of rotation of said-disc-forselectively receiving the pin, said eccentric grooves-intersecting said-arcuate grooves at points spacedrfrom the axis of the disc seats to. positionthestylusiof the tone arm to initiate playing of alO-inch reeord and a 12-inch record, said eccentric grooves being of :increasing radius from theaxis 0f=-the discin a direction fromsaidi'points-of intersection ofsaid grooves with said arcuate grooves, whereby the'pin in traversing either of said grooves swings said tone armto a position-out of the pathbf -a record as it is :placed on said'turn-table, driving means for actuating said cam disc first'in one direction and then the other, meansformormally maintaining said driving means ineffective to actuate said camandconstructed :to-automatically render :said driving means ineffective ilpon completion of each to: and fro cycle of rotation of -.-said cam, means controlled bythe tone arm for rendering said 1 driving means-iefiective as the playing of each record is completed, said cam disc having :a groove intersecting :said eccentric grooves, and means including ;-a record sensing member for directing thepin-from-one. eccentric groove to the other along said intersectingagroove in accordance with'the size of the record'sensed by said member.

20. In an automatic ,;phonograph,-a turn-table, oscillatable posts :adjacent thereto, record supporting and changing blades 'on said posts :and movable therewith, said blades supporting records of difierentsize indiscriminately stacked as tosize on said blades, meansoscillatingsaid posts to release the bottommost .record to said turntable, a :tone' arm operably associated with :said

. turn-tablaa shaft for swinging said atone :arm, :a

crank on said shaft, .a cam discfihaving :a plurality of :cam grooves for .difierentsizerecords, a follower .;pin carried by said crank and selectively engageable with .one of said ;grooves,ra record sensing rod oscillatable with and relative to one of said posts, said 'rodubeing positioned to sense the bottommost record of the :stack of "records on said blades, said :record sensing "rod "being mounted relative to the associated ,post to #swing diiferent distances in accordance with =thersize of the record sensed, and a -stop.rod connected to said record sensing-rod andpositioned thereby according to the-size :of the "record sensed, said crank having an armadapted to engagexsaid stop rod thereby to ,positiontheipin follower carried by said crank in a groove of saidizcam "disc according to the :positionof the stop rodxin 'engaging-said-crankarm.

21. In an automaticphonograph, a turn-table, means for supportingastack ofrecords inadispensing relation to said turn-table,;said means comprising a shiftable ::record changing member for successively releasing the records :to said turn-table, :a tone arm operably associated with said turn-table, .a continuously operating driving means for said turn-table, actuatormeans connectable to said driving means for operation therebyand connected "to said record changing member and said :tonearm for 'shiftingrsaidxrec- 0rd changing member and repositioningsaidtone arm in an .initial zplaying .iposition .for each successive :record, releasable latch means for mermally holding said ;.actuator :meanszagainst' connection to said driving means, means controlled by the tone arm for releasing said latch means, manually operable control means, means connecting said manually operable means to said latch means for releasing the same at will, and means operated by said manually operable means for rendering said tone arm controlled means ineffective to release said latch means, said actuator means including an automatically releasable connection to said tone arm for permitting manual setting of said tone arm.

- 22. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, means for supporting a stack of records in dispensing relation to the turn-table, said means comprising a shiftable record changing member for successively releasing the records to said turntable, a tone arm operably associated with said turn-table, a continuously operating driving member, a member urged into driving engagement with said driving member to be driven thereby and connected to said tone arm and said shiftable record changing member for operating thesame, means normally latching said driven member out of driving engagement with said driving member, means controlled by the tone arm for automatically releasing said latching means to initiate an operation of said record changing member releasing a record to said turntable and to initiate simultaneously an operation of said tone arm repositioning said arm for the playing of the next record, an electric motor operating said turn-table and said driving member, a switch for controlling said motor, and manually operable control means including a multiposition manual member, said manually operable control means also including means operable by said manual member in moving to one position to operate said switch to deenergize the motor thereby to cut off the phonograph, means operable by said manual member in moving to a second position to render said latching means ineffective to release said driven member thereby to set the phonograph for manual operation, said last mentioned means being operable by said manual member in moving to a third position to render said latching means effective to release said driven member under the control of said tone arm thereby to set the phonograph for automatic operation, and means operable by said manual member in moving to a fourth position for releasing said latching means thereby to initiate manually at will an operation of said record changing member and said tone arm.

' 23. In an automatic phonograph, a turn-table, means for supporting a stack of records in dispensing relation to the turn-table, said means comprising a sliiftable record changing member for successively releasing the records to said turntable, a tone arm operably associated with said turn-table, a continuously operating driving member, a member urged into driving engagement with said driving member to be driven thereby and connected to said tone arm and said shiftable record changing member for operating the same, means normally latching said driven member out of driving engagement with said driving member, means controlled by the tone arm for automatically releasing said latching means to initiate an operation of said record changing member releasing a record to said turntable and to initiate simultaneously an operation of said tone arm repositioning said arm for the playing of the next record, an electric motor operating said turn-table and said driving member,.a.switch for. controlling. said motor, and

manually operable control means including a multiposition manual member, said manually operable control means also including means operable by said manual member in moving to one position to operate said switch to deenergize the motor thereby to cut off the phonograph, means operable by said manual member in moving to a second position to render said latching means ineffective to release said driven member thereby to set the phonograph for manual operation, said last mentioned means being operable by said manual member in moving to a third po-' sition to render said latching means efiective to release said driven member under the control of said tone arm thereby to set the phonograph for automatic operation, means operable by said manual member in moving to a fourth position for releasing said latching means thereby to initiate manually at will an operation of said record changing member and said tone arm, and means presetting said last mentioned means upon movement of the manual member to said second position for automatically releasing said latching means as said manual member is moved from said second to said third position.

24. In an automatic record changer, means for supporting and successively releasing the bottommost record of a stack, said means including a record supporting member shiftable to release the bottommos-t record, a tone arm operator constructed to shift the tone arm from one record to the next as the records are changed, a continuously operating driving spiral, a follower adapted to be connected to said driving spiral, and means connecting said record supporting member and said tone arm operator to said follower, said connecting means including a common load release device driven by said follower, and said device being adapted to release automatically and simultaneously the record supporting member and the tone arm operator from the follower upon interference with the operation of said record supporting member.

25. In an automatic phonograph, a stylus carrying tone arm for playing records, means for automatically raising the tone arm from a record when the record has been played and for repositioning said tone arm to initiate playing of a record, said means comprising'a driving cam, and a cam follower connected to the tonearm to operate the tone arm, said cam having an active cam portion with a side surface shallow trans verse to the direction of traversal of said portion by said follower whereby said follower may move freely relative to said cam across said side surface upon interference with, or manipulation of, said tone arm.

26. In an automatic phonograph, a record receiving turn-table, opposite sets of record supporting and changing blades for receiving a stack of records to be played, said blades being oscillatable to and fro to release records one by one, means for guiding released records to the turntable, a stylus carrying tone arm mounted for movement toward and from the turn-table and for movement across the turn-table, and means for synchronously operating said changing blades and said tone arm, said means comprising a common driver, and a common load release device connecting said driver to said blades and to said tone arm, said device comprising a driving member and a driven member relatively movable into and out of engagement, means normally urging said driven member into engagement with said driving member, said driving and driven members 

